Vandalism

I refer on this occasion to the proposed removal of the railway embankment that carried the old Manchester/Liverpool railway line over the ship canal.

Once this goes any chance of reopening this valuable transport link is gone forever.

If this line was linked back to the GMC tram system it could give Warrington direct links to Manchester and its airport to the east, to the west lies Liverpool and its airport.

Using Bank Quay as a hub the growing populace of Warrington would then have a central link to the national rail system.

I have heard that the high level bridge over the canal is structurally unsound but the main Glasgow/ London line crosses the canal and that was built to the same design and in the same era.

Why is it that whenever Warrington wishes to rid itself of historical landmarks the word ‘unsafe’ leaps out?

Warrington, in fact the whole of the north west, is criss-crossed by railway lines, closed and dismantled in the Beeching era.

The main infrastructure of these lines, ie bridges and tunnels, are still intact and at relatively low cost some of these lines could be brought back into use.

Come on, we might even help Mr Osborne create his Northern Powerhouse and we will not be spending billions.

Most people I know do not want to hurtle around on trains at super speed. We just want a seat on a train or tram that is clean, punctual and reasonably priced.

So come on let us start using some of the wonderful Victorian transport heritage we have before it is too late.

With modern technology and design it can be brought back to life.

GEORGE CULLEN Thelwall